Invasion of privacy.

CHAPTER 5 

SOPHIE

I still can't believe that he made me watch that lewd display. He is such a psychopath and sadist that I can't stand him. Since Leo and I moved to New York after our wedding, I have been hearing about the crazy things Vincenzo does, but what he did last night tops it all. How does he even manage to treat women in such a demeaning manner?

Since last night, different thoughts have been filling my mind.

I couldn't help but wonder if they were under a spell. The young lady from last night can't be in her right mind and let him do those things to her, right?

I heaved a deep sigh as I pulled the curtains aside and noticed it was daybreak. I couldn't sleep a wink last night—not while I was in the house of a crazed psycho like Vin. I was awake all night, constantly checking my phone in case they had reconnected the network so I could call any of my family members. That was all I cared about.

I have a deep feeling that my mother isn't in the right place. Since her illness, Leo has been the one paying for her hospital bills, even though he never allows me to see her. Each time I called my brother, he confirmed that my husband always comes around to see my mother and pays the bills. I often wondered why he never moved her to a better hospital for her chemotherapy, but I still feel very grateful for the little he is doing for my family.

I have no job to back me up, and my brother is still in school. My heart raced as I thought about it. What if Leo has already stopped paying for my mother's treatments and told my mama that I ran away from home? And what if this sadist here never moved my mom from the hospital to a better one, as he promised?

I ran my hand through my hair, scattering it as I paced back and forth. I need to get the hell out of this place and maybe find a loan for my mama. Staying here isn't going to solve anything. Looking around, I decided to quickly take a bath. Everything I needed was inside the room, and I couldn't help but wonder why they had a fully furnished room with women's clothes ready. Is this what he does with other women, or is it just me?

A few minutes later, I jumped into the bathroom to wash my body. Each time I closed my eyes, that scene from last night kept playing in my mind. I can't seem to shove it off and think straight for even one second.

I shook my head vigorously as the water poured down on me. "Sophie, no, you shouldn't be thinking about that..."

Once I was done bathing, I absentmindedly stepped out of the shower with a towel wrapped around my body. But as soon as I stepped out, my heart almost jumped out of my chest. I froze, my eyes wide at the sight of Vincenzo inside my room.

He stared at me, his eyes tearing away the towel, filled with lust. His gaze felt like a physical touch, making my skin crawl.

He didn’t seem fazed one bit that he had invaded my privacy.

“W-what the fuck are you doing in here?” I demanded.

Vincenzo shrugged. “Just checking on my debtor. Making sure she’s comfortable.” His eyes never left mine.

“Comfortable?” I repeated, incredulous. “You invading my privacy is what you call comfortable?”

“This is my home regardless,” he said, stepping closer, his eyes glistening with amusement.

I clenched my fists by my sides, feeling a surge of anger at his words, but I tried to keep my cool. I would never win a fight against the devil.

His smile grew wider. “You’re so quick to assume the worst about me, but for the past two years, you’ve laid side by side with an animal.”

I gulped, looking away as a deep wave of embarrassment washed over me. Not one lie told. Staying for a good two years with Leo was diabolical, but I wasn’t giving this sadist that satisfaction.

“My husband is still better than you in whatever metric you want to use,” I fired back, not even believing my own words.

His lips curled into a dirty smirk. “Wow.” He mused. “You still call such an asshole your husband? He beat you to a pulp, froze your card, locked up your brother, then cut off your mother’s medical bills and asked for an instant discharge, and you still want him?”

I gasped silently, staring blankly at him as my mind recalled every word he had just said seconds ago.

Leo arrested Zayn and requested an instant discharge?

I swallowed hard, trying to get a hold of myself. My head was now in a daze, and my eyes blinked rapidly to process what that meant.

Without another word, Vincenzo left my room, gently slamming the door. A part of me wanted to hold him back and ask for more details about what he had just said. I didn’t know how he knew so much about me, but honestly, I didn’t care. I just wanted to be sure my family was doing fine, and that was all.

But as stupid as it may sound, I didn’t have even half a buck on me for fare to the hospital. Maybe reconsidering Vincenzo’s offer might be my best option…

I slowly slumped into my chair, my mind racing with thoughts. I can’t let him treat me like I’m worthless just for my mother’s treatment.